Saint Etienne coach Claude Puel has again stated his regret at losing Wesley Fofana to Leicester City.

The defender, after marathons negotiations, eventually was sold by ASSE for a fee rising to €40m.

Puel lamented, "It is a difficult period.

"We have a lot of players not available, especially defensively. It remains problematic.

"We had to adapt, with the departure of Fofana, Macon's injury and those of the others ... We must respond anyway."